Dexter Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dexter Reservoir |
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Dexter Lake
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 Dexter Reservoir
Location in Oregon
Dexter Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lane County, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 43°55′25″N 122°48′24″W / 43.92361°N 122.80667°W |
| Type | Reservoir, mesotrophic |
| Primary inflows | Middle Fork Willamette River |
| Primary outflows | Middle Fork Willamette River |
| Catchment area | 1,002 square miles (2,600 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,025 acres (415 ha) |
| Average depth | 27 feet (8.2 m) |
| Max. depth | 56 feet (17 m) |
| Water volume | 29,990 acre-feet (36,990,000 m3) |
| Residence time | less than one month |
| Shore length1 | 7 miles (11 km) |
| Surface elevation | 695 feet (212 m) |
| Settlements | Dexter, Lowell |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Dexter Reservoir, also called Dexter Lake, is a large, human-made lake in Lane County, Oregon. It's located about 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Eugene. This lake is part of the Middle Fork Willamette River. It sits just downstream from another lake called Lookout Point Lake.
The towns of Dexter and Lowell are close to the lake. A road called Oregon Route 58 runs along the south side of the lake. Another road, Pengra Road, follows the north side.
Dexter Dam holds back the water to form the reservoir. This dam is 117 feet (36 m) tall. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 29,900 acre-feet (36,900,000 m3). The dam also has a power plant that makes 15,000 kilowatts of electricity. Dexter Lake and the parks around it are popular spots for water sports and other outdoor fun.
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How Dexter Lake Was Made
Dexter Reservoir and Lookout Point Lake were both created in 1954. This happened when the United States Army Corps of Engineers finished building the dams for them.
Dexter Lake helps control the water flow from the lake upstream. This is important when Lookout Point Lake is making hydroelectricity, which is power made from moving water. The amount of water in Dexter Lake can change a lot. However, the river flow below Dexter Dam stays pretty steady. These dams are part of 13 projects built by the Corps of Engineers in the Willamette Valley.
Fun Things to Do at Dexter Lake
Dexter Reservoir is not just for controlling floods and making electricity. It's also a great place for recreation! There are three state parks located near the lake.
Dexter State Recreation Site
This park is 100 acres (40 ha) big and is right next to Dexter Dam. It's about 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Eugene. Here you can find picnic tables, restrooms, and a place to launch your boat. People enjoy swimming, fishing, sailing, and other water sports here. The University of Oregon Rowing Team has practiced on Dexter Lake since 1967.
Elijah Bristow State Park
This park is much larger, at 847 acres (343 ha). It stretches for 3 miles (4.8 km) along the south bank of the river, just below Dexter Dam. The park has picnic tables, restrooms, and areas for horse riders. You can also find horseshoe pits and a platform for watching wildlife. There's a boat launch too.
Elijah Bristow State Park has 12 miles (19 km) of trails. These trails go through forests and open fields. Most of them are open for mountain biking, horse riding, and hiking.
Lowell State Recreation Site
This park is right on the north side of Dexter Lake. It has picnic tables, a boat launch, a dock, a playground, and a basketball court. Restrooms are also available. You can go fishing, swimming, sailing, and waterskiing at this site.
Fishing at Dexter Lake
Dexter Lake is home to different kinds of fish. You can find rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass here. There are also many northern pikeminnow. The City of Lowell even holds a contest each July to encourage people to catch these pikeminnow.
Images for kids
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Dexter Lake
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Dexter Dam
